Support for a sanitary napkin



June 16, 1959 M. wElNMAN 2,890,701

SUPPORT FOR A SANITARY NAPKI Filed oct. e, 1954 36 f-ll A 38 .o

e30 az 5N Z2 '55 le Z6 INVENTOR.

MARY WEINMAN ATToRNEY Unite The present invention relates to sanitary napkins and, more particularly, to a novel and useful device for supporting a sanitary napkin.

In the support of a sanitary napkin, the wearer generally employs a belt type device which is strapped about the waist and rests upon the upper portion of the hips. The napkin is then fastened to the belt and the belt and napkin are held in place by the undergarment of the wearer, as for example, undershorts, girdle or panties.

An object of this invention is to provide a support for a sanitary napkin which does not require the use of the hitherto customary belt and undergarment combination.

Another object of the invention is to combine the functions of both the undergarment and the belt in a single support.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a support for a sanitary napkin which protects the clothing and body from stain.

A further object of the invention is to provide a holder for a sanitary napkin which permits the wearing with a minimum of discomfort and bulk.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder for a sanitary napkin to which the napkin may be readily and securely attached and easily removed.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part of the specication wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the support according to the invention with the same separated at opposed seams and laid flat, and with the sanitary napkin attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional Iview taken on lines 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along lines 3--3.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 10 generally indicates a support for a sanitary napkin according to the present invention. The support as shown in Fig. 1 has been separated at opposite seams and laid ilat to provide a clearer showing of its internal construction and features.

The Support comprises a center or crotch portion 12 which is composed of a flexible, liquid repellent material. Although the center portion 12 is shown in the drawings (Figs. 2 and 3) as consisting of two separate layers of material 14 and 16, it is also obvious that the center 12 may consist of a single layer of rubberized fabric, or a plastic, in which event the layers would not be separable.

The center 12 is attached at its front end to the front member of the support 10 and at its rear end to the member 20 forming the rear of the support 10. Attached to the center 12, along portions of the opposite edges thereof, are the leg iiaps 22 and 24. These may be constructed of lthe same liquid repellent material as the above mentioned central portion 12. Included in the seam of the leg flaps with the center 12 are the elastic States Patent 2,890,701 Patented June 16, 19.59

strips 26 as shown in Fig. 3. Leg engaging loops 28 are fastened to the sides of each of the flaps 22 and 24 to retain the same against the legs of the wearer in the manner to be described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3 it will be seen that the center portion 12 is provided with an elongated opening 30 extending in the direction of the length of the center portion 12. The opening 36 forms a pocket 32 (Fig. 3') which may be obtained by lifting the top layer 14 of the fabric which forms a part of the center portion 12. A deodorant may be inserted into the pocket 32 when the support is used.

The center portion 12 is provided with two sets of strips 34 and 36 which extend transversely to the length thereof near both of its ends. The two sets of strips 34 and 36 are spaced from each other suciently to accommodate the length of a sanitary napkin SN to be placed therebetween. The tab ends of the napkin SN are passed beneath both sets of the strips 34 and 36, and then turned back to pass or loop over the outermost strips 34, and then beneath the innermost strips 36 of each set. In this manner the napkin SN is secured in place on top of the center portion 12 without the need of pins, clips or other securing means. It will be recognized that the strips 34 and 36 may also be formed by making three transverse slots in the layer 14 to provide two loops thus obviating the necessity of sewin-g the two strips 34 and 36 to the center portion 12.

As mentioned before the construction shown in Fig. 1 is not a showing of the support in its completed form. When the support is in its completed form the front member 1S and the rear member 20 are sewn together at their corresponding edges 38 and 40 so that the resulting structure is one resembling a pair of undershorts, panties or underpants. When the front and rear members 18 and 20 are sewn together the arcuate portions 42 and 44 will serve as the leg engaging openings in the support.

The elastic top 46 on both the front and rear members 18 and 22 insure a snug and secure fit about the waist while the elastics 26 insure a snug leg engagement about the crotch of the wearer.

In use a deodorant is inserted into the pocket 32. Each tab of the napkin SN is pulled under the strips 34 and 36, looped over the strips 34 and then pulled back under the strips 36. The napkin is then securely placed on the center portion 12 of the support 10.

The support 10 is placed about the body of the wearer by inserting a leg through each of the leg openings 42 and 44. The leg aps 22 and 24 may be left hanging freely outside of the support 10 to provide a better protection 'against chaiing of the legs or staining of the clothing, or it may be held tightly and securely against the legs of the wearer by inserting the legs through the leg engaging loops 2S, or if desired it may be folded into the support between the napkin SN and the center portion 12,

The support 10 may take the form of an undergarment, as for example, a pair of panties, shorts, underpants or a girdle. It will eliminate the bulk 4and discomfort of an individual belt and an individual undergarment by combining the features of both of these items into a single item.

The elastic 26 provided in the area of the crotch of the support 1li will provide a snug fit thereabout while the elastics 46 about the top of the members 18 and 20 will retain the support in proper position on the wearer. The necessity of bulky clips, pins, snaps and buttons is now eliminated.

l have described a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is to be understood that this disclosure 3: is for the purpose of illustration only and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from therspirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Underpants comprising a crotch portion' integral with said underpants, said crotch portion being made from liquid-repellent material and including two spaced apart substantially parallel strips secured to said crotch portion near one end thereof, two further spaced apart substantially parallel strips secured to said crotch portion near the opposite end thereof, said' strips extending transversely to the length of said crotch portion and 'dening a passage between said'crotchV portion and said strips for detachably attaching` a' sanitary napkin to said crotch portion, leg flaps attached to said crotch portion at opposite sides thereof, and loop means attached to said leg-flapsv for engaging the legs of the wearer, whereby said leg-aps are retained against the inner face of said 4; legs, said crotch portion defining a pocket for receiving a deodorant therein.

2. In underpants as claimed in claim 1, elastic strips extending along at least a portion of the sides of said crotch portion for urging said crotch portion against the body of the wearer.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 743,877 Ische et al Nov. 10, 1903 1,157,774 Goodnou Oct. 26, 1915 1,331,042 Andreae Feb. 17, 1920 1,560,890 Whitlock Nov. 10, 1925 1,912,783 Meyer June 6, 1933 2,016,355 Alsop Oct. 8, 1935 2,505,356 Goldstein Apr. 25, 1950 2,545,099 Mann Mar. 13, 1951 2,674,997 Haas Apr. 13, 1954 2,705,9574 Mauro Apr. 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 379,974l Germany Mar. 23, 1922 

